"Stripping the membranes" is done by inserting a finger between the membranes and the wall of the uterus to loosen the membranes from the wall. Sometimes, this stimulation of the uterine wall can help to start labor. Sometimes, the loosening of the membranes allows more water to collect in front of the baby which puts more pressure on the cervix and perhaps labor is stimulated that way. The procedure can be a little uncomfortable for some women. If the woman is truly near delivery, she often gets a contraction as a result of the procedure.

I am just wondering if that is what he did to me today. He said that he didn't think i was gonna make it to my due date, and in fact didn't want me to because my blood pressure was high. He said my body was ready to go meaning that i was dialated to almost a 2 and my cervix is thin, so everything is doing what it is supposed to, and then he did "the damn thing" and it hurt like hell!!! He said he was trying to stir up contractions. Could that possibly be what he did?

When my doctor stripped mine she never said any either. Though it didn't hurt for me. I thought I was just getting checked for dilation. I was one day over due when she did this. I went into labor 11 hours later.

i was just wondering because im 39 weeks 2 days and i have an appt. friday and i was wondering if thats what they would maybe do..last time i went to the doctor she didnt think i was going to make it to my next appt..but im still going and dont feel like its going to happen..